Synchronous temperature rate control and apparatus for refrigeration with reduced energy consumption

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance configuration, and associated methods of operation, for an appliance with a controller, a condenser, at least one evaporator, a compressor, and two refrigeration compartments. The configuration may be equipped with a variable-speed or variable-capacity compressor, variable speed evaporator or compartment fans, a damper, and/or a dual-temperature evaporator with a valve system to control flow of refrigerant through one or more pressure reduction devices. The controller, by operation of the compressor, fans, damper and/or valve system, depending on the appliance configuration, synchronizes alternating cycles of cooling each compartment to a temperature approximately equal to the compartment set point temperature.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigeration appliance, comprising:
 a condenser, a refrigerant, and a compressor;   a first cooling compartment and a second cooling compartment;   a first evaporator in thermal communication with one or both of the first and second cooling compartments;   a first fan for directing cool air in thermal communication with the first evaporator to one or both of the first and second cooling compartments;   a refrigerant circuit arranged to allow flow of the refrigerant between the condenser, the first evaporator and the compressor; and   a controller coupled to the compressor and the first fan,   wherein the controller is adapted to control a rate of cooling in the second cooling compartment such that a temperature in the second cooling compartment during a cycle of cooling the second cooling compartment reaches a second cooling compartment lower threshold temperature at substantially a same time as a temperature in the first cooling compartment reaches a first cooling compartment upper threshold temperature, and   further wherein the second cooling compartment lower threshold temperature is set below a second cooling compartment set point temperature, and the first cooling compartment upper threshold temperature is set above a first cooling compartment set point temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further adapted to control the rate of cooling in the second cooling compartment by operation of one or more of the compressor and the first fan. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance according to  claim 2 , wherein a second cooling compartment upper threshold temperature is set above a second cooling compartment set point temperature, and a first cooling compartment lower threshold temperature is set below a first cooling compartment set point temperature, and
 further wherein the controller is further adapted to control a rate of cooling in the first cooling compartment such that the temperature in the first cooling compartment during a cycle of cooling the first cooling compartment reaches the first cooling compartment lower threshold temperature at substantially a same time, or before a time, that the temperature in the second cooling compartment reaches the second cooling compartment upper threshold temperature by operation of one or more of the compressor and the first fan.   
     
     
         4 . The appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressor is selected from the group consisting of a variable speed compressor, a linear compressor, a variable capacity compressor and a two-speed compressor, and further wherein the first fan is selected from the group consisting of a single-speed fan and a variable-speed fan. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressor is selected from the group consisting of a single-speed compressor and a single-capacity compressor, and further wherein the first fan is a variable-speed fan. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second evaporator in thermal communication with the second cooling compartment, the first evaporator in thermal communication with the first cooling compartment; and   a second fan for directing cool air in thermal communication with the second evaporator to the second cooling compartment, the first fan for directing cool air in thermal communication with the first evaporator to the first cooling compartment,   wherein the controller is also coupled to the second fan, and is further adapted to control the rate of cooling in the second cooling compartment by operation of one or more of the compressor, the first fan and the second fan.   
     
     
         7 . The appliance according to  claim 6 , wherein the refrigerant circuit comprises a valve system configured to direct or restrict flow of the refrigerant to either or both of the evaporators, and further wherein the controller is also coupled to the valve system, and is further adapted to control the rate of cooling in the second cooling compartment by operation of one or more of the compressor, the first fan, the second fan, and the valve system. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance according to  claim 6 , wherein a second cooling compartment upper threshold temperature is set above a second cooling compartment set point temperature, and a first cooling compartment lower threshold temperature is set below a first cooling compartment set point temperature, and
 further wherein the controller is further adapted to control a rate of cooling in the first cooling compartment such that the temperature in the first cooling compartment during a cycle of cooling the first cooling compartment reaches the first cooling compartment lower threshold temperature at substantially a same time, or before a time, that the temperature in the second cooling compartment reaches the second cooling compartment upper threshold temperature by operation of one or more of the compressor, the first fan and the second fan.   
     
     
         9 . The appliance according to  claim 7 , wherein a second cooling compartment upper threshold temperature is set above a second cooling compartment set point temperature, and a first cooling compartment lower threshold temperature is set below a first cooling compartment set point temperature, and
 further wherein the controller is further adapted to control a rate of cooling in the first cooling compartment such that the temperature in the first cooling compartment during a cycle of cooling the first cooling compartment reaches the first cooling compartment lower threshold temperature at substantially a same time, or before a time, that the temperature in the second cooling compartment reaches the second cooling compartment upper threshold temperature by operation of one or more of the compressor, the first fan, the second fan, and the valve system.   
     
     
         10 . The appliance according to  claim 6 , wherein the compressor is selected from the group consisting of a variable speed compressor, a linear compressor, a variable capacity compressor and a two-speed compressor, and further wherein the first and second fans are selected from the group consisting of single-speed fans and variable-speed fans. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 a condenser, a refrigerant, and a compressor;   a refrigeration compartment and a freezer compartment;   an evaporator in thermal communication with the refrigeration and freezer compartments;   an evaporator fan in fluidic communication with the evaporator and a damper, wherein the damper is configured to selectively direct or restrict flow of cool air from the evaporator fan to either of the compartments;   a refrigerant circuit arranged to allow flow of the refrigerant between the condenser, the evaporator and the compressor; and   a controller coupled to the compressor, the evaporator fan, and the damper,   wherein the controller is adapted to control a rate of cooling in the freezer compartment such that a temperature in the freezer compartment during a cycle of cooling the freezer compartment reaches a freezer compartment lower threshold temperature at substantially a same time as a temperature in the refrigeration compartment reaches a refrigeration compartment upper threshold temperature, and   further wherein the freezer compartment lower threshold temperature is set below a freezer compartment set point temperature, and the refrigeration compartment upper threshold temperature is set above a refrigeration compartment set point temperature.   
     
     
         12 . The appliance according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further adapted to control the rate of cooling in the freezer compartment by operation of one or more of the compressor, the evaporator fan and the damper. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance according to  claim 12 , wherein the refrigerant circuit comprises a valve system that directs or restricts flow of the refrigerant through one or both of a primary and a secondary pressure reduction device arranged in parallel within the circuit, upstream from the evaporator, and
 further wherein the controller is also coupled to the valve system, and is further adapted to control the rate of cooling in the freezer compartment by operation of one or more of the compressor, the evaporator fan, the damper, and the valve system.   
     
     
         14 . The appliance according to  claim 13 , wherein a freezer compartment upper threshold temperature is set above a freezer compartment set point temperature, and a refrigeration compartment lower threshold temperature is set below a refrigeration compartment set point temperature, and
 further wherein the controller is further adapted to control a rate of cooling in the refrigeration compartment such that the temperature in the refrigeration compartment during a cycle of cooling the refrigeration compartment reaches the refrigeration compartment lower threshold temperature at substantially a same time, or before a time, that the temperature in the freezer compartment reaches the freezer compartment upper threshold temperature by operation of one or more of the compressor, the evaporator fan, the valve system and the damper.   
     
     
         15 . The appliance according to  claim 11 , wherein the compressor is selected from the group consisting of a variable speed compressor, a linear compressor, a variable capacity compressor and a two-speed compressor, and further wherein the evaporator fan is selected from the group consisting of a single-speed fan and a variable-speed fan. 
     
     
         16 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 a condenser, a refrigerant, and a compressor;   a refrigeration compartment and a freezer compartment;   an evaporator in thermal communication with the freezer compartment;   an evaporator fan in fluidic communication with the evaporator and a damper;   a refrigerant circuit arranged to allow flow of the refrigerant between the condenser, the evaporator and the compressor; and   a controller coupled to the compressor, the evaporator fan, and the damper,   wherein the controller is adapted to control a rate of cooling in the freezer compartment such that a temperature in the freezer compartment during a cycle of cooling the freezer compartment reaches a freezer compartment lower threshold temperature at substantially a same time as a temperature in the refrigeration compartment reaches a refrigeration compartment upper threshold temperature, and   further wherein the freezer compartment lower threshold temperature is set below a freezer compartment set point temperature, and the refrigeration compartment upper threshold temperature is set above a refrigeration compartment set point temperature.   
     
     
         17 . The appliance according to  claim 16 , wherein the controller is further adapted to control the rate of cooling in the freezer compartment by operation of one or more of the compressor and the evaporator fan. 
     
     
         18 . The appliance according to  claim 17 , wherein the damper is configured to selectively allow either flow of cool air directed by the evaporator fan to the refrigeration compartment, or to the freezer compartment, and
 further wherein the controller is further adapted to control the rate of cooling in the second cooling compartment by operation of one or more of the compressor, the evaporator fan and the damper.   
     
     
         19 . The appliance according to  claim 18 , wherein a freezer compartment upper threshold temperature is set above a freezer compartment set point temperature, and a refrigeration compartment lower threshold temperature is set below a refrigeration compartment set point temperature, and
 further wherein the controller is further adapted to control a rate of cooling in the refrigeration compartment such that the temperature in the refrigeration compartment during a cycle of cooling the refrigeration compartment reaches the refrigeration compartment lower threshold temperature at substantially a same time, or before a time, that the temperature in the freezer compartment reaches the freezer compartment upper threshold temperature by operation of one or more of the compressor, the evaporator fan, and the damper.   
     
     
         20 . The appliance according to  claim 16 , wherein the compressor is selected from the group consisting of a variable speed compressor, a linear compressor, a variable capacity compressor and a two-speed compressor, and further wherein the evaporator fan is selected from the group consisting of a single-speed fan and a variable-speed fan.